Residents of Drover Court in Wagon Wheel were told by the county last week they had to remove lights strung between houses over their street. On Tuesday, the county reversed the decision, saying the lights could stay up as long as the residents obtained permits. The county is expediting the process and waiving the permit fees.

Ashley Jubb gazes out her window where Christmas lights are connected from house to house along Drover Court. The county had told residents to take the lights down because they didn't have permits for them, required by state and county laws. On Tuesday, the county reversed its decision and said if the residents applied for permits, and the lights pass inspection, they could stay up.

Dannielle Jubb, left, and Brian Kopiec walk along their neighborhood on Drover Court.

Wagon Wheel resident Bill Jubb talks Monday about having to remove the Christmas lights strung across Drover Court. Tuesday the county told residents the lights could stay up as long as they pass inspection.

Brian Kopiec and Dannielle Jubb show one of many homes connected with Christmas lights crossing over their street. The county told residents the lights require a permit because they cross over a county road and they would have to be taken down.

Wagon Wheel resident L'angelo D'Silva and his daughter Maddie Buckley play Christmas music for the neighborhood on Drover Court.

Residents on Drover Court learned Tuesday they won't have to take down Christmas lights strung from house to house.

Residents on Drover Court in Trabuco Canyon come out to celebrate Tuesday night after the county agreed to issue permits for lighting strung from house to house.

Residents on Drover Court in Trabuco Canyon will get to keep their Christmas lighting after the county agreed to issue a permit Tuesday.

County officials on Tuesday told residents in two Trabuco Canyon neighborhoods that they could keep up lights they had strung between their houses and over county-controlled streets.

Residents on Drover Court and Abilene Drive in Wagon Wheel had received letters Friday from OC Public Works stating that the lighting violates county and state codes that govern obstruction and encroachment of public roadways. The codes state a permit is required in such situations.

The letter said that if the lights were not removed by today, the residents could face misdemeanor charges or be cited for infractions with fines of up to $500 a day.

The residents turned to the media to voice their frustration, and by late Monday the county released a statement saying it would work with residents to issue permits.

Kristen Camuglia, deputy chief of staff for county Supervisor Pat Bates, whose 5th District includes Wagon Wheel, said her office learned of the issue Monday.

“My boss, when she heard it, she said, ‘Wait a minute, wait a minute, there’s no way we are taking down the lights. We’ve just got to get them to work through the permits,’” Camuglia.

On Tuesday, Bates and county officials told residents they could keep the lighting as long as they submit permit applications and the installations pass inspections, said Dannielle Jubb, 43, who lives on Drover Court. The county will expedite the process and offered to waive the $65 per house permit fee, she said.

“It’s been a great, successful day,” Jubb said. “I’m really grateful to the county, but especially to the media. If the media had not come out here and took an interest in our community and what’s going on, I don’t think this would have gone as well as it has.”

The Drover Court neighborhood started suspending the lights about five years ago, said Kevin Kirchner, 50, who initiated the effort with a few other neighbors. The tradition grew as more residents joined in each year.

Jubb said lights are secured tightly to a steel cable, and where they connect, the strands are wrapped with electrical tape to avoid the risk of fire.

Camuglia said residents are expected to submit applications this morning, and county staff will head out to the neighborhoods for inspections, which should take less than 30 minutes.

The county will try to make the application process more user-friendly online, she said.

“Public safety is first and foremost,” she said. “What they are looking at is the height, they are looking at the connection to the homes and they are looking at the electrical.”

She said the county is waiving the permit fees because the applications are coming after the fact.

Drover Court residents came out Tuesday night to celebrate the news.

“I’m elated,” L’angelo D’Silva, 60, said. “I think it’s great. It’s good for the neighborhood. I think this is going to get bigger, more people will do it. We are in compliance. That’s important. I think it’s going to get bigger. Let’s spread the joy. That’s what it’s all about.”

Steve Gomez was telling the story to a man who came by the area to see the dazzling decorations.

Tomoya Shimura covers Irvine for the Orange County Register. Prior to his stint at the Register, Tomoya had worked as a news reporter and sports writer for the Daily Press in Victorville. He won several awards for his work there, including the best business story from the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Tomoya received his M.S. in sports studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He earned his B.A. in liberal arts from International Christian University in Tokyo.

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